Radiator question...

[98 T]

Every since I was on my way back from  Blue/Gray ride, I have been getting a whiff of coolant from time to time.  Especially when I start out from a stop...not as strong at freeway speeds.  There are no leaks I can see, no drips, no green residue by the upper clamp on the top of the radiator or the  return hose at either end. (I can't see by the thermostat area) but there is no green puddle anywhere on the floor on on the top of the motor from what I could see...I just get a whiff of coolant.. so if it's a leak,  it must be small.

When I let the bike idle in the driveway for several minutes, the upper and lower hose firm up tight under pressure. As soon as the fan kicks in, the hose got a little softer.  When I'm riding, I pinch/  check the upper hose by the cap and it  is usually not real tight.

Today it was a cool 65° here and at speed the hose didn't get real tight under pressure. I would put my left hand against the inside of the left part of the radiator (the cool side).. it was warm and then about once every  minute, it would get super hot ( I assume the thermostat had just opened up letting some hot fluid into the radiator) and because it was so cool today, the radiator would cool down to warm again.  So I can assume my thermostat is working, right?

I put an extra clamp on the upper hose but I don't think it was leaking there.  Someone told me at B/G ride that it could be my radiator cap not sealing tight?  I think it seals down snug but when the bike was running, I sniffed around the hoses and the only place I could really smell coolant was around the cap. I does not appear there are any cracks in the radiator from what I can see. Nothing shooting out of the cap area...just the smell.

Any thoughts?

In a couple weeks, I plan on replacing the thermostat while I have the airbox and tank off just to be sure.  I've been told on this board that I don't need to replace the hoses. (mine is a 1998 tourer...original).  Maybe I should replace the cap too? 


thanks for any advice....

Loth

[R J]

Before ya get all spooked out over a smell, do this.

Pull the cap off, when it is COLD.

Take a pair pliers and bend, just a wittle bit, the tabs on the cap so they will make the cap fit tighter.  Oh yeah, take the firkin screw out before ya take the cap off.

Go for an enjoyable ride and quit worrying about a teeny tiny coolant smell.

[Black Dog]

Hey Loth...  Gimme a call when ya plan on having the airbox off, and I'll see if I can stop by.  I had a coolant leak (not just smell) and I can show ya where ya might have an issue, where the tubes from the block connect to the thermostat housing.

Sure wouldn't hurt to replace the thermostat (don't forget to order the gasket too), and the upper and lower hoses.  As lond as yer gonna be making an order, look at the parts fich, and order up the 'O' rings that are used for the tubes out of the thermostat housing, that I mentioned above.

You know how to reach me 

Black Dog